Global Voices · Citizen media stories from May 2011

May, 2011

Monthly archive · 181 posts

Featured stories from May 2011

“Shame for Brazil” Forest Defender Couple Murdered

Six months after he predicted his own murder in TEDx Amazônia, the environmentalist José Cláudio Ribeiro da Silva was assassinated together with his wife in an ambush possibly articulated by loggers of the region. Bloggers mourn the loss on the eve of the approval of the new Forestry Code.

read »

Australia: SlutWalks Spread the Word

Following Toronto’s lead, Australians have started a series of SlutWalks with Melbourne’s first march on 28 May. The catchphrase: Make it known that those who experience sexual assault are never the ones at fault.

read »

Africa, France: Who is Nafissatou Diallo? Victim or Conspirator?

Mexico: Blood Fountains 30 May 2011
China: Detained Rights Lawyer Interrogated About Sex Life 30 May 2011
Honduras: Former President Manuel Zelaya Returns 29 May 2011
Russia: Famous Sci-Fi Writer's Blog Removed for ‘Anti-Semitism' 29 May 2011
Costa Rica: Sex Abuse Prison Sentence Raises Concerns About Justice System 29 May 2011

Stories from May, 2011

29 May 2011

Philippines: Novelist Mired in Plagiarism Controversy

Written by Karlo Mikhail Mongaya · East Asia

Alfred "Krip" Yuson, an award-winning Filipino novelist, achieved notoriety for allegedly plagiarizing an article by his subordinate in a mainstream news agency. Here are some reactions from the Philippine blogosphere

· 1

· read »

Russia: Moscow Pride 2011

Written by Veronica Khokhlova · Eastern & Central Europe

This year's Moscow Gay Pride event ended in clashes almost as soon as it began, at least 18 gay rights activists and 14 of their opponents are reported to have been arrested, and a journalist who had blogged about her reasons for attending the rally ended hospitalized with a concussion.

· 4

· read »

28 May 2011

Mexico: Teacher Sings with Students During Shooting

Written by Juliana Rincón Parra · Latin America

The YouTube video showing a kindergarten teacher singing with her students to keep them calm during a shooting in Monterrey, Mexico has spread almost virally through the Spanish speaking countries.

· 12

· read »

Peru: Growing Debate Regarding Genetically Modified Farming

Written by Isabel Guerra · Translated by Ayoola Alabi · Latin America

The official signing of Decree 003, which permits the import of genetically modified seeds into the country, continues to generate debate between those in favor of the widespread use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and those who fear it would be harmful to the country's biodiversity and the health of its people.

· 3

· read »

Kuwait: Protest Against the Prime Minister

Written by Mona Kareem · Middle East & North Africa

Kuwaitis protested on Friday calling for Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah to leave the government. Mona Kareem summaries the reactions of Kuwaiti netizens on the continuing Friday of Anger protests in their country.

· 1

· read »

Egypt: Mubarak Fined for Internet Blackout during Revolution

Written by Amira Al Hussaini · Middle East & North Africa

An Egyptian court has fined ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and other officials 540 million Egyptian pounds ($90m) for disconnecting the Internet and mobile phone services during the revolution. Mubarak's regime first shut down access to Twitter when protests started, then Facebook, before turning off the Internet on January 28.

· 3

· read »

Updates from May, 2011

31 May 2011

Thailand

Saksith Saiyasombut reacts to the order of a Thai government official banning foreigners from getting religious tattoos in Thailand

• Mong Palatino

Haiti

“We want to showcase local talents, and change the image of the youth in Cite Soleil. We want to get people planting again and eating Haitian food”: Throwing Down the Water profiles “a neighborhood committee called ‘La Difference' [which] formed a movement to clean up their few blocks” and is hoping to effect real change.

• Janine Mendes-Franco

Jamaica

Weblog Bahamas‘ Rick Lowe is “all for going green voluntarily…and in time”, while Labrish Jamaica warns: “There is no debate anymore about climate change. It is here. If sea level were to rise only 1 metre in the Caribbean, the impacts would be catastrophic.”

• Janine Mendes-Franco

Bermuda

Regional bloggers congratulate the Bermudian and Bahamian football representatives - now being lauded as whistleblowers - who refused to accept bribes from FIFA; Globewriter republishes suspended vice-president Jack Warner's statement on the FIFA ruling and Plain Talk says that he is not as concerned with Jack Warner the FIFA rep as he is “with Jack Warner the politician…and the further destruction to the integrity in public affairs his presence at that level brings.”

• Janine Mendes-Franco

Jamaica

Diaspora litblogger Geoffrey Philp has begun an online movement to clear Marcus Garvey's name - his aim is “to get 10,000 signatures and to deliver the petition to President Barack Obama.”

• Janine Mendes-Franco

Bosnia Herzegovina

The CEE Bankwatch Network, an NGO monitoring activities of international financial institutions, has just released a video sharply criticizing the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's 20th anniversary of activities in former Soviet Bloc countries, and its intentions to extend to north Africa. “The EBRD has in fact a poor track record of keeping up with its mission to protect human rights and the environment and promote justice.” The Network campaign requests the EBRD to promote “environmentally-sustainable, socially-just, renewable energy-based societies rather than just market economies.”

• Bernardo Parrella

Kenya

Emeka blogs about Fanisi Venture Capital Fund which “focuses on a segment of the market that has to date been outside the ambit of most venture funds in the East African market. Fanisi makes equity investments of $0.5 million - $3 million per transaction in high growth businesses, including start ups and early stage companies…”

• Ndesanjo Macha